October 1, 1904 
one spraying as is done with apples, but 
further experiments are needed to settle 
this point. Tn any case, as the blossoming 
of the pear is spread over a lengthy period, 
usually marked by much rain and heavy 
dews, conditions extremely favorable to the 
germination and growth of the spores of 
the fungus, conditions also tending to wash 
off the spraying material, the advisability 
of two applications of Bordeaux, as before 
suggested, is strongly urged upon growers. 
SPRAYING IN BLOOM. 
A good deal has been written about 
spraying fruit trees in bloom of a somewhat 
contradictory character, and it is advisable 
therefore to state the experience of the 
past season. When an apple blossom fully 
expanded was carefully sprayed with an 
atomiser, so that every portion received the 
spray, no fruit set, presumably because the 
top of the stigma was rendered unfit for the 
germination of the pollen. grain either 
already upon it or afterwards to be carried 
there. But when a large tree with the 
blossoms fully expanded was sprayed with a 
light and fine spray, then the fruit set very 
well, and no apparent damage was done. 
With such a mass of blossom as a healthy 
tree usually bears, a very fine spray distri- 
buted over such an extensive surface is not 
deposited in large quantity at any particular 
spot, and the number of stigmas rendered 
unfit to receive or retain the pollen is very 
small in comparison with the total number, 
and so the yield 1s not apparently affected, 
While it may be quite safe to spray a fruit 
tree when in full bloom, provided it is done 
in the form of a very fine mist, yet when 
one spraying alone is given it is not alto- 
gether advisable to do so for various 
reasons, unless weather conditions have 
prevented the operation being performed 
earlier, 
In the first place it is rather late, since 
pear even before the flower buds have fully 
expanded. sy 
In the next place there is such a large 
and extensive surface to cover that the 
chances are against its being thorougly 
done, and it is the unsprayed spots which 
form breeding grounds for the fungus. 
HOW TO SPRAY. 
It is well to note that’good results can 
only be insured by the use of properly pre- 
pared mixtures applied with good machines, 
A first-class pump, easily worked and not 
liable to get out of order, is an absoluts 
essential, With copper-soda or bluestone a 
very fine nozzle can be employed, as there 
is no grit to cause stoppages. In using 
Bordeaux a nozzle easily. cleaned ‘is very 
desirable, thoug thorough straining will be 
found to greatly reduce the possibility of 
choking. A fine spray, lightly coating the 
whole of the tree and particularly the grow- 
ing shoots and the fruit buds, is what 
should be aimed at. ‘he tree should not 
be drenched so that thé mixture runs off in 
quantity, for it is fouad that in such cases a 
lesser quantity adheres, and this is why itis 
Sometimes recommended to give two light 
. writes a controversial article in which he 
points out that the variations in character- . 
Sprayings at intervals of a few hours. 
If the instructions here given regarding 
the time and method of application are fol- 
lowed it is safe to say that no serious losses 
are likely to be sustained from the attacks 
_navel in the orange.” 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
of our more common fungus parasites. — 
Department of Agriculture Bulletin, Vic- 
toria. 
Tue Srepiess Appre.—Mr. John F. 
Spencer writes a letter describing the 
characteristics of a new seedless apple 
which he has originated. Relative to the 
nature of the fruit Mr. Spencer states tnat 
‘there are stamens and pollen as usual, but 
“no flowers or blossoms. The fruit resembles 
a smal! berry in shape. ‘It retains this 
-appearance until half grown, and then 
assumes the shape and form of the fruit. 
The fruit loses none of its flavor because it 
is seedless and coreless. There is nothing 
but meat to the apple, save the small navel 
end, which has every appearance of the 
Mr. Spencer states 
that he has been working to produce this 
seedless apple for the past seven years. He 
considers it a revolutionary acquisition to 
-the apple industry, 
THE DEVELOPMENT oF THE SEEDLESS CuR- 
RANT Berry.—Mr, A. J. Perkins writes :— 
A record is given of some experimental 
work done to determine whether or not the 
seedless Zante curraat forms fruit without 
pollination. Preliminary work showed that 
the pollen from Zante currants, as well as 
from a number of other varieties of grapes, 
germinated in sugar solutions. A number 
of illustrations are given showing the 
pollen grains and the different forms they 
assumed in germination. The size of the 
pollen grains was found to be not more 
than three or four times the size of ordinary 
yeast cells. The individual grains are in- 
visible to the naked eye, and cannot be 
discerned even with the ordinary magnify- 
ing glass such as can be used out of doors. 
In emasculating the Zante currants it 
was found that, notwithstanding the great 
. care taken and the fact that the emascula- 
~ tion ¢ i i i 
we have seen that the black spot may ap. _ ion took place indoors instead of in the 
field, a few pollen grains regularly adhered 
to the stigma; and germination experi- 
_ ments showed that these pollen grains were 
sufficiently ripe to germinate and thus 
cause fertilisation of the ovules. In normal 
. fertilisation of the currant it was found 
that the fertilised ovales increased in size 
for about ten days and then finally aborted. 
ytfrom the results of the work it is con- 
~ cluded that the pollen of the seedless Zante 
germinates as freely as that of other seeded 
varieties ; that the pollen is mature; and 
that it is extremely difficult, if not impos- 
sible, to avoid leaving pollen on the stigmas 
of vines when emasculating them two or 
three days prior to their expansicn. It is, 
held, therefore, that certain experiments 
- which have been reported heretofore and in 
which emasculated flowers set fruits, are 
inconclusive as to the alleged absence of 
fertilisation in the development of seedless 
fruit. Nothing in this experiment was dis- 
covered which would justify the assumption 
that fruit is produoed in tha ovule of the 
Zante currant without the intervention of 
pollen. 
On tHe Duration anp VaRrarions In 
Grav up Vines—Monsieur L. Degruly 
isticc of vines due to grafting are not suffi- 
cient on the whole to cause vineyardists 
any apprehension. The thousands of acres 
Iz 
of French vineyards which have beer re— 
constructed on American stocks still con— 
tinue in a thriving condition and produce am. 
abundance of wine 20, 25, and 30 years: 
after grafting. The subject of variations 
brought about as a result of grafting is 
wholly in an experimental stage, and as yet 
is of scientific interest only. 
Nores on THE REO NSTRUCTION OF FRENCH: 
Vineyarps sy Grarrinc.—Mors. L, Daniel 
says:—Contrary to the general belief, 
grafting has been found to change the 
character of the scion graft as well as of 
the wine produced from the fruit growm um 
it. The variation in vine and product is 
due in a large measure to change in nutri- 
tion which takes place as a result of the 
callusing of the grafted parts, and the con- 
sequent greater difficulty of sap circulation. 
By taking advantage of the changes thus 
brought about it is believed that it will be 
possible to produce by grafting new varie- 
ties which shall combine the good qualities 
of the French grapes with the phylloxera. 
‘resistance of the American sorts. Grap» 
‘growing by the use of direct producers is 
‘considered highly desirable, and scientists 
are urged to experiment along the line of 
‘the production of new varieties, by mein: 
of grafting, which shall be direct pru- 
ducers. gate 
' Poratro DisEASES AND THEIR REMEDIEs.— 
“Messrs. I. R. Jones and W. J. Morse say 
that the results obtained during Lt years’ 
experiments with potato diseases iudicate 
that the Bordeaux-arsenical mixture is 
superior to any other remedy. As a rule 
two applications havo been found profitable . 
In 1908, however, the development of po- 
tato blight was checked by one application 
On account of the Jate appearance of the 
disease. One application of Bordeaux- 
arsenical mixture produced a gain of 12: 
bushels per acre. The addition of ‘‘ Bug 
Death” and Paris green to the Bordeaux 
mixture was apparently without much effect 
on account of the unusually small numbers 
of potato beetles and other insects. Neither 
Paris green nor ‘Bug Death” have any 
value in controlling potato blight, the Bur- 
deaux mixture alone being quite effective. 
Experiments were carried on for the pur- 
poss of determining the relation between 
the date of digging potatoes and develop- 
~ ment of the rot. -Four rows of potatoes 
were dug on each of five days, that is. 
August 31, September 7, 14, 21, aud <s_ 
All of the potatoes were stored under 
Similar conditions. The results indicated 
that whenever there is. danger of rot it is 
best to delay digging the potatoes for ten or 
‘more days after the tops die, ! 
A test of sprinkling potatoes with air- 
-slaked lime before placing them in the cellar 
showed that this method is of no value in 
controlling the development of the rot. 
“In experiments with potato scab it was 
found that corrosive sublimate and formalin 
were equally efficient. The formaldehyde 
gas treatment, however, is recommended as 
_ preferable for this purpose. An air-tight 
-room is required, and-it is recommended 
that not less that one pound.of formalin be 
used for each 1,000 cuvic feet.of space. 
“Tue Dry Ror or -Poratozs OCausED BY 
Fusariom Oxysporum.—Messrs. HE. F. 
Smith and D. B. Swingle write as follows = 
—This disease of potatoes has long been 
